Touch detection through metal with detailed lit icon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12089335-B2
Application number	US-202117522374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2021
Priority date	Nov 9, 2020
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a detailed lit indicator and touch detection in the same location through a metal surface. When the light behind the metal is turned off there will be no visible appearance of an indicator. When touched the metal will have no perceptible movement and never experience any deformation or evidence of usage over the life of the product.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A touch-sensitive input device comprising:
a planar base layer having a hole disposed therein;
a light source mounted on a first side of the base layer and extending into the hole in the base layer;
a metallic surface layer disposed over the base layer on a second side of the base layer opposite the first side of the base layer and forming an exterior, touch surface of the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the metallic surface layer comprises a plurality of holes directly over the light source and forming an indicator on the metallic surface layer, wherein the plurality of holes and the indicator formed by the plurality of holes are not visible to an unaided human eye when the light source is off and wherein the indicator formed by the plurality of holes only becomes visible to an unaided human eye when the light source is on;
a sensor disposed between the base layer and the metallic surface layer adjacent to the light source without covering the light source;
a spacer layer disposed between the base layer and the metallic surface layer, the spacer layer comprising a ring surrounding the sensor, the hole in the base layer, and the light source without covering the light source and wherein the spacer layer maintains a distance between the base layer and the metallic surface layer and a distance between the metallic surface layer and the sensor; and
a diffusion layer disposed within the ring of the spacer layer between the spacer and the metallic surface layer, wherein the diffusion layer diffuses light emitted by the light source.

2. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is an icon formed from the plurality of holes in the metallic surface layer.

3. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

4. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

5. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 4 , wherein the distance between the metallic surface layer and the capacitive sensor is from 0.1 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters.

6. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a conductor.

7. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 6 , wherein the distance between the metallic surface layer and the conductor is 0.1 millimeters.

8. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 1 , wherein the base layer comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

9. The touch-sensitive input device of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the base layer and the metallic surface layer maintained by the spacer layer is between 1.2 millimeters and 1.5 millimeters.

10. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) comprising:
a plurality of holes disposed in a surface of the PCB; and
a plurality of touch-sensitive input devices mounted on the PCB, each touch-sensitive input device of the plurality of touch-sensitive input devices comprising:
a light source mounted on a first side of the PCB and extending into a hole of the plurality of holes in the PCB;
a metallic surface layer disposed over the PCB on a second side of the PCB opposite the first side of the PCB and forming an exterior, touch surface of the plurality of touch-sensitive input devices, wherein the metallic surface layer comprises a plurality of holes directly over the light source and forming an indicator on the metallic surface layer, wherein the plurality of holes and the indicator formed by the plurality of holes are not visible to an unaided human eye when the light source is off and wherein the indicator formed by the plurality of holes only becomes visible to an unaided human eye when the light source is on;
a sensor disposed between the PCB and the metallic surface layer adjacent to the light source without covering the light source;
a spacer layer disposed between the PCB and the metallic surface layer, the spacer layer comprising a ring surrounding the sensor the hole in the PCB, and the light source without covering the light source and wherein the spacer layer maintains a distance between the PCB and the metallic surface layer and a distance between the metallic surface layer and the sensor; and
a diffusion layer disposed within the ring of the spacer layer between the spacer and the metallic surface layer, wherein the diffusion layer diffuses light emitted by the light source.

11. The PCB of claim 10 , wherein the indicator is an icon formed from a plurality of holes in the metallic surface layer.

12. The PCB of claim 10 , wherein the light source is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

13. The PCB of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

14. The PCB of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a conductor.

Assignees

• Flex Ltd

Inventors

• Bradford Curtis V
• Garcia Alfredo

Classifications

• H05K2201/10151

  Sensor · CPC title

• H05K2201/10106

  Light emitting diode [LED] · CPC title

• H05K2201/09063

  Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• H03K2217/96042

  with illumination · CPC title